Former CBI Director and Trustee of Paramhansa Yogananda Public Charitable Trust inaugurated the program on April 30.
A unique charitable initiative, Meal Heals was launched at AIIMS Hospital in New Delhi by Paramhansa Yogananda Public Charitable Trust on the auspicious day of Akshay Tritiya, April 30.
This compassion-driven program is dedicated to providing free, nutritious meals to underprivileged patients and their attendants at AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences). It is a beacon of support for those who travel from far-flung villages, often struggling not only with illness but also with hunger and uncertainty.
The new program has been made possible by generous support from real estate major DLF and ONGC (state-run Oil & Natural Gas Corporation), known for its dedication to social welfare.
Meal Heals is committed to standing by these individuals facing challenging times—offering nourishment for the body, uplifting spirits, and reminding them they are not alone. The program aims to elevate consciousness through acts of service (seva). Alongside the nutritious meals, beneficiaries will receive ‘Autobiography of a Yogi’ fame Paramhansa Yogananda’s Healing Prayers, breathing techniques and short meditation techniques. Additionally, friendship is offered to lighten emotional burdens and guide them as needed.
The program aims to elevate consciousness through acts of service. Alongside the nutritious meals, beneficiaries will receive ‘Autobiography of a Yogi’ fame Paramhansa Yogananda’s Healing Prayers, will be taught breathing techniques and short meditations.
At the inauguration of the Annadana event, D.R. Kaarthikeyan, former Director CBI and trustee of the charity, was the Chief Guest. Gracing the ceremony was Ms. Pia Singh, Chairperson of DLF Foundation and Board Member of the KP Singh Foundation, named after her father, whose pioneering building projects led the way for a thriving Gurgaon getting on the world map.
Notable attendees included Debasish Mukherjee, Executive Director of CSR at ONGC, Venu Nair, CEO of the KP Singh Foundation, monks of Akshaya Patra, and founders of the PMC Hindi Channel, according to a press release from the orgnizers.
On the day of the launch, hundreds of needy individuals received a packed lunch, marking the commencement of a daily service at AIIMS, the government-run premier medical institution.
Meal Heals endeavors not only to feed the hungry but also to spread hope, healing, and happiness, enhancing the well-being of those in need,
Yoganana Trust invites people to join the Meal Heals program through their company’s CSR initiative. Contact: Manjeet@yoganandatrust.org
To contribute in India or from abroad: https://yoganandatrust.org/donate-now/
About Paramhansa Yogananda Public Charitable Trust
Paramhansa Yogananda Public Charitable Trust is one of India’s largest and most impactful widow welfare organizations. Established in 2015, it currently serves thousands of destitute, abandoned, and elderly women—mostly widows—living in the Vrindavan area of Uttar Pradesh. These are women abandoned by their families or forced out of their homes due to loss of a spouse, ill treatment or other circumstances. The Trust provides them with shelter, love, and care, restoring to them the dignity and family they had lost.
The Trust was founded by Ms. Pia Singh, an eminent philanthropist, industry leader, and Chairperson of the DLF Foundation, whose vision and dedication continue to guide its compassionate mission.
Over the past nine years, the Trust has rescued more than 6,000 women from life on the streets. Alongside its work in widow welfare, the Trust extends free medical support to all destitute individuals living in Vrindavan, making compassion and service the cornerstones of its mission.
Meal Heals is its new initiative.
Virtues of Giving Food to the Needy
“The channel is blessed by what flows through it”, said Paramhansa Yogananda, founder of the worldwide Self Realization Fellowship and Yogoda Satsanga Society in India.
Sri Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita, “From food all beings are evolved”.
Sikh communities are renowned for running free kitchens from their temples. In their faith, providing food is seen as an act of service to humanity, and therefore a form of worship. They see all individuals as equals and offer food with loving-kindness, regardless of people’s faith or social standing.
Islam calls feeding others a highly virtuous act, a form of charity (sadaqah) and a path to earn a place in Paradise.
In Christianity, giving food is seen as a manifestation of generosity and compassion and sharing with the poor is a way to participate in God’s work of restoring justice and caring for the marginalized.
Buddhism believes that almsgiving is the queen of virtues – it allows us to step outside of ourselves and focus on the needs of others.
Jainism counts giving food as a way to accumulate punya, which leads to positive karma and improves one’s future life.
